Judge in Canada Bans Publication of Terror Suspects Names
The judge in the trial of a youth charged with plotting terror attacks in Ontario has ruled that a publication ban on the identities of his co-accused is necessary to ensure their fair trials.
Superior Court Justice John Sproat said in a ruling that publicity in the case could influence potential jurors. Sproat put an interim ban on the publishing of the defendants’ identities last week and made it permanent on Tuesday.
The ban applies to the identities of 14 adults who were arrested in a massive police sweep in 2006 after they allegedly tried to obtain three tons of ammonium nitrate, an explosive material commonly used in fertilizer. Officials accused the suspects of plotting attacks and said they were inspired by al-Qaida.
Four teenagers, including the one whose trial opened a week ago, were also arrested in the sweep. Their identities are protected under Canada’s Youth Criminal Justice Act. Prosecutors decided not to proceed with cases against three of the youths.
The fourth has pleaded not guilty to participating in and contributing to the activity of a terrorist group. He is the first of the suspects to go on trial. He was 18 at the time of his arrest.